DIRECTOR, HOME & COMMUNITY-BASED EARLY INTERVENTION

Deidra Love earned her master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education from UTC, as well as undergraduate degrees in Education and English from Carson Newman University. She brings more than 18 years of experience in the early intervention field, as a teacher, home visitor, and behavior specialist/consultant. Deidra has focused additional study and professional work in the fields of autism, challenging behavior, and inclusion, providing training and workshops for preschool teachers and early intervention professionals across the state. Additionally, she is the mother of four children, and she is passionate about supporting the developmental therapists on her team, who in turn, help families and caregivers build their skills and confidence as capable teachers of their own children. “I am very grateful and excited to join this team as director of the Home and Community-based Early Intervention Program here at Siskin Children’s Institute. I believe the work of home visitors is so important, as we strive to increase children’s progress and growth by building on the strengths and supporting the needs of their families. I look forward to investing in and leading our dedicated and skilled group of home visitors here at Siskin, as well as expanding our program to reach more children and families in the Chattanooga community and surrounding counties.”

Ileana Blanco
Early Intervention Behavior Specialist

Ileana Blanco serves as the Early Intervention Behavior Specialist at Siskin Children’s Institute in Chattanooga, TN. She holds an M.A. in Behavior Analysis from the Florida Institute of Technology as well as a B.S. in Speech and Language Pathology from Santa Paula University. Ileana offers support and guidance to caregivers about their child’s development, and she also has the knowledge and experience to help provide applied behavior analysis (ABA) support in natural environments and within a family’s regular routines. The Siskin EIBS program serves Hamilton County and 18 surrounding counties in Southeast TN.